THC is being detected in twice as many injured drivers since cannabis was legalized in Canada, according to new UBC research published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The findings may be a signal that more Canadians are choosing to drive after using cannabis.

“It’s concerning that we’re seeing such a dramatic increase,” said Dr. Jeffrey Brubacher (he/him), associate professor in UBC’s department of emergency medicine and the principal investigator of the study.

“There are serious risks associated with driving after cannabis use. Our findings suggest more is needed to deter this dangerous behaviour in light of legalization.

The products were not marked for sale in Canada or Alberta.

No seatbelt and yapping on a cellphone were more than enough to attract the attention of an Alberta RCMP traffic officer who stopped a driver and subsequently discovered weed products in the vehicle.

If U.S. policymakers want to better prioritize public health while legalizing cannabis, they should look to Canada's model for ideas, according to a new research report funded by Stanford University.

Keith Humphreys, PhD, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine, commissioned the report in his role as co-director of the Stanford Network on Addiction Policy, in an effort to more closely examine Canada's efforts to control marketing of the drug, its use of government-run cannabis retail stores and efforts to reduce youth access to better prevent harmful drug use.

I talked with Humphreys about the results of the study and how it could be useful in forming future policy in the United States.

One taken to hospital with smoke inhalation after early morning house fire in Vernon

One person was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation after an early morning house fire in Vernon Tuesday.

Firefighters were dispatched to the 25th Avenue fire about 1:10 a.m. following report of smoke coming from a single-storey house on the 3600 block.

Crews arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the front of the structure.

“Crews advanced on the fire and quickly contained it to the front portion of the house,” says deputy fire chief Alan Hofsink.

“The house sustained significant smoke and fire damage. When crews arrived, all occupants of the home were already outside, and one person was transported to hospital for smoke inhalation and undetermined injuries.”

Quebec officials have reported the number of first-dose appointments for Covid-19 vaccines have quadrupled after announcing that vaccination passports will be required to enter liquor and cannabis stores. 

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) work together to uphold laws governing the illegal cross-border movement of contraband goods, including cannabis. While legal in Canada, the unauthorized movement of cannabis across Canada's international borders remains a serious criminal offence, subject to enforcement up to and including criminal investigation and prosecution. Unauthorized cannabis can be dangerous as it is not regulated, may contain elements that are harmful to human health, and should not make its way to Canadian communities.

The owner of Northern Zen Cannabis recognizes the long path that led to his store in North Bay

While legalized recreational cannabis is becoming more and more mainstream, the path from prohibition to your corner cannabis shop has been long.

“Northern Zen Cannabis wouldn’t be standing today if it wasn’t for the pioneers in the past who made it happen,” says Zachary Lacelle, owner and operator of Northern Zen Cannabis.

The mayor of the UK's capital Sadiq Khan (belonging to the Labour party), is planning to develop a scheme to offer an alternative to arrest those caught with a small amount of cannabis.

According to The Guardian, the diversion scheme, which is still under development, would be based on providing classes and counseling, rather than arrest, to under-25-years-old people caught in possession of small quantities of cannabis.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Khan was considering decriminalizing cannabis in London. However, Khan denied that report, insisting he did not have the power to do so.

The Quebec government may soon require people to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before buying alcohol at the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) or cannabis products at the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC).

"If the government goes in this direction, we will apply this sanitary measure -- as we have done with all other efforts deployed since the beginning of the pandemic," said SAQ spokesperson Yann Langlais Plante.

 Civil case puts business dealings of Jo Bamford under spotlight as well as alleged family tensions

The heir to the JCB digger empire, whose father Lord Bamford is one of Boris Johnson’s biggest financial backers, is locked in a legal battle with a former close friend that has shed fresh light on alleged tensions inside one of the UK’s most powerful industrial families.

The case has also raised questions over the conduct of Jo Bamford, a 43-year-old self-styled “green entrepreneur” who is a director at a key JCB holding company and has now set himself up as an investor in bus manufacturing and hydrogen.